title: Constructing stories of self-growth: how individual differences in patterns of autobiographical reasoning relate to well-being in midlife.
abstract: Although growth has been a central focus in narrative research, few studies have examined growth comprehensively, as a story that emerges across the interpretation of many events. In this study, we examined how individual differences in autobiographical reasoning (AR) about self-growth relate to traits and well-being in a national sample of midlife adults (N= 88) who ranged in age from 34 to 68. Two patterns of growth-related AR were identified: (1) positive processing, defined as the average tendency to interpret events positively (vs. negatively), and (2) differentiated processing, defined as the extent to which past events are interpreted as causing a variety of forms of self-growth. Results showed that positive processing was negatively related to neuroticism and predicted well-being even after controlling for the average valence of past events. Additionally, differentiated processing of negative events but not positive events was positively related to openness and predictive of well-being. Finally, growth-related AR patterns independently predicted well-being beyond the effects of traits and demographic factors.
authors.affiliation: Haverford College, Haverford, PA 19041, USA. jlilgend@haverford.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer Pals
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lilgendahl
authors.forename: Dan P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McAdams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009341:Negativism; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D014481:United States